Switzerland v Italy LIVE: Score and goal updates as reigning ...
The knockout rounds begin at Euro 2024 as the defending champions face a talented Switzerland side in Berlin
Luciano Spalletti’s underwhelming Italy side face an organised, confident Switzerland team in the first of the last-16 matches at Euro 2024.
The Azzurri played poorly at times during the group stages, falling to a damaging defeat to Spain in their second game and needing a 98th-minute goal from Mattia Zaccagni to get a draw against Croatia to take them through. And the round of 16 pits them against an assured Switzerland side who earned five points in Group A, with draws against Scotland and Germany following a convincing 3-1 win over Hungary in their opener.
Switzerland are no strangers to a Euros upset, having beaten France on penalties at this stage in 2021, and with both teams are evenly matched on paper, expect a close encounter in Berlin as the knockout rounds get underway.
Follow all the latest action from Switzerland vs Italy below.
27 mins: Close!
Action at the other end now. Stephan El Shaarawy nods an aerial ball across to Federico Chiesa who twists and weaves his way into the penalty area.
He shakes a tackle and gets off a shot only for Manuel Akanji to block the danger and turn the ball out for a corner.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:28
24 mins: There’s been spaces for Switzerland to operate in between the lines but they’ve been lacking with a cutting final pass to properly cause Italy issues.
Save! Michel Aebischer dinks a chip over the top and picks out Embolo’s run. He shifts the ball onto his right foot and shoots but Gianluigi Donnarumma is up to the task and palms the ball away.
Best chance of the match so far!
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:26
21 mins: Switzerland are patient in possession and manage to work it up the pitch. Embolo is given the ball by Xhaka and plays it across to Dan Ndoye hoping for a one-two.
Embolo looks to burst into the box but Italy are strong defensively and recover the ball before he gets to it.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:23
18 mins: Federico Chiesa helps Italy up the pitch before leaving the ball to Nicolo Fagioli. He threads a pass over to the enterprising Bryan Cristante whose low pass into the box wins a corner.
Switzerland defend is well enough.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:18
15 mins: Michel Aebischer curls a free kick into the box but it’s too close to Gianluigi Donnarumma who plucks it out of the air without too much trouble.
Now there’s time for a bit of Italian possession.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:16
12 mins: Nicolo Barella has gone down for Italy and looks to have pulled a hamstring. He hobbles off the pitch as he team turn over the ball and look the counter attack.
After their foray forward is stopped, Barella jogs back onto the pitch so the knock doesn’t seem too bad.
Granit Xhaka then floats a diagonal ball into the Italy penalty area. Breel Embolo is the target and the forward manages to get to the ball but he’s on the stretch and can’t control it cleanly.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:13
9 mins: Italy are defending deep and allowing Switzerland to have the ball. The Swiss look slightly unnerved to be in possession for so long but are looking to make runs into small gaps.
Ricardo Rodriguez comes out of the defence and drives forward but he loses the ball just as he gets into the box.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:10
6 mins: These opening minutes have all belonged to Switzerland. Ruben Vargas is sent the ball and looks to come down the left wing. He takes on Giovanni Di Lorenzo and skips around the defender before whipping a cross into the box.
Italy’s centre-backs deal with the ball but these are positive signs for Switzerland.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:08
3 mins: The corner ball is whipped into the middle and it’s no surprise that Italy have everyone back to defend it. The cross comes over to Gianluca Mancini who strongly nods it away from the danger zone.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:04
Switzerland kick off the knockout stages and work the ball over to the right sided defender, Fabian Schar.
He lifts a long ball down the right side of the pitch and finds Breel Embolo who brings the ball into the box and helps the Swiss win the first corner of the game.
Mike Jones29 June 2024 17:02
